Food Donation Relieves Hunger, Helps In Other Ways

sioux falls, sd

Some hungry people left the Salvation Army Saturday night full, after they were served a warm donation. Friday, we told you about Tyson Foods and HyVee donating 36,000 pounds of chicken to non-profits in KELOLAND.

One of those is the Salvation Army, which received enough food to feed 400 people, and it made it possible for families to share around the dinner table.

The chicken sizzling on the grill isn't in someone's backyard or at a picnic. Instead, it's at the Salvation Army, where those who would otherwise go hungry this holiday weekend can enjoy a meal.

"I can't hardly afford it so that's why I come down here to eat," Dean Mortinsen, who eats at the Salvation Army, said.

The 56-year-old has come to the organization for Saturday dinners for two years. At this meal, he and many others will not only get to enjoy corn on the cob.

"Oh, I just love watermelon but brownies, they don't agree with me," Mortinsen said.

Everyone seems to be happy about the main course: grilled chicken. The Salvation Army got 100 pounds of the meat Friday. By the end of this weekend, 200 people are expected to show. They're welcome to have seconds and wrap some up to go.

"It helps out a lot of people. They can get a meal, bring their children in," volunteer Jackie Gripe said.

The food donated wouldn't just feed people that come through this organization, but it will also allow the Salvation Army to help people in other ways.

"It's wonderful, you know, because it just saves the corp money and that money could go toward something else," staff member Patsy Pool said.

That's $800 the organization can spend on its other programs, because that's how much volunteers say it costs to prepare dinners like this every weekend.

"If enough other people would do this, then we wouldn't have hungry people in Sioux Falls," Pool said.

People like Mortinsen who can celebrate the holiday surrounded by good food, the company of friends and the comfort that he won't have to go to bed hungry.

The Salvation Army says Saturday, Sunshine Foods also donated ten bags full of food.